More info: For a schedule of sessions and more information, go to la-ccp.org.

LONGMONT -- While leaders of contemplative practices -- think meditation groups, yoga classes and drumming circles -- often promote the physical and spiritual benefits of the services they offer, they aren't always great at promoting themselves.

Enter the Longmont Area Coalition for Contemplative Practices.

Formed in March, the coalition is a small, grassroots alliance of about a dozen Longmont groups that aims to promote the meditative practices its members offer.

"It started because the Longmont Shambhala Meditation Group decided nobody knew about them, and then they thought that's probably true of a lot of other groups in Longmont. ... All the groups in our coalition feel we have something to offer the community and the community doesn't know about us," said Bill Lyford, Longmont Shambhala's coordinator and a member of LACCP.

LACCP's first task has been crafting an event to highlight what its members can offer. On Saturday, July 28, the coalition is sponsoring Wake Up! In The Park at Longmont's Kanemoto Park. More than a dozen different practices, including yoga, centering prayer, walking and sitting meditation, Qigong and tai chi, will be offered in 20-minute sessions throughout the day.

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"We're offering a spectrum of practices, not necessarily connected with a particular belief system," said Carol Janda, one of the event organizers and a member of Longmont Shambhala Group.

In one of the sessions, Longmont resident Karen Wright will lead members of the Front Range Djembe Community Orchestra in a number of West African rhythms.

Wright said that while many people are attracted to percussion, they may not know about the benefits, which include reducing stress and boosting one's immune system.

Dannah Edwards, left, of Longmont, and instructor John Moore practice a walking meditation during a group class at the Meditation Place in Longmont on Tuesday.
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Greg Lindstrom
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"When you're drumming, the only thing that really exists if you and your drum and what you're playing," she said.

Sandy Jenkins, who will lead a short yoga class at the event, said she hopes people who try any of the sessions leave "with something they can feed their inner self with."

Jenkins, who teaches yoga and offers reiki and hypnotherapy, moved to Longmont in March from Rhinelander, Wisc. She joined the LACCP, in part, to spread the word about the classes and services she offers.

But for many people, like Jenkins, there's a fine line between sharing the practice and marketing a product. She prefers to think of the LACCP as raising awareness about available services.

"When I do yoga, it's not about doing yoga and getting the most customers. To me, it's a match between a student and a teacher," she said, adding that if, for example, she felt a student would benefit more from another teacher, she'd have no problem referring them to someone else.

The minimal costs associated with the event later this month -- securing a permit from the city, advertising and printing promotional materials -- have been covered by donations from coalition members involved.

After the event, organizers said the coalition likely will continue to meet. They hope to make Wake Up! In The Park an annual event.

Even several members of the coalition have said they have been surprised to learn about the variety of groups Longmont offers.

"So often, I've been going, 'What the heck is that?' And it's been fascinating," said John Moore, facilitator of the Lotus Blossom Sangha meditation group.

Often, people stick to a certain practice and don't explore other, even similar, ones, said Cliff Clusin, director of the Meditation Place, a Longmont space that hosts contemplative classes. So even piquing the interest of other LACCP members isn't preaching to the choir.

"There's a tendency for people to latch on to just one of these (practices), and they just see themselves as a baritone, and not so much as the whole choir. ... Actually, within the choir, we're reaching out to each other in ways we haven't before," Clusin said.

John Moore rings a bell signifying the start of a group meditation at the Meditation Place in Longmont on Tuesday.
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Greg Lindstrom
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Still, Clusin said he believes there are people who are familiar with meditation and other practices, and, though they understand the benefits, they need a nudge to actually try them.

"We hope a steady, small amount of people who have the potential to appreciate these activities continue to discover them and that by having it be kind of a short sampling in the park, that will encourage people to check some of these things out," he said.

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